Thoughts 
by Elizabeth Strout, Random House 2016, 208 pages
MOTIVATION for READING: This has been mentioned as an excellent book pub’d in 2016 and I want to be ahead of the anticipated books to possibly make the TOB 2017 list.
WHAT’s it ABOUT: This book is about mother-daughter relationships, growing up in poverty, how childhood can shape adulthood, nature vs nurture, marriage somewhat, a writing guide somewhat…
WHAT’s GOOD: So many things… I love the tone, I love how the main character (LUCY BARTON) falls in love with the kind people in her life, I loved the courage and the sharing. I loved the authentic feel of it. I suppose I should say ‘I loved the authenticity’ but I think ‘the authentic feel of of it’ fits better.
What’s NOT so good: Nope, nothin’ wrong with it. Loved it; my kind of book.
I like introspective, quiet, deep, provocative books. This is one of those. This could be called a survivor’s tale.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Before reading this… I was reluctantly interested. Allow me to explain that it was because I fell head-over-heels hard for Olive Kitteridge but was less than overwhelmed (I was only ‘-whelmed) with The Burgess Boys. So, I was nervous, OK? But it seemed that many readers I respect were giving Lucy some praise and it caught my eye when I stopped to visit Dawn at the Concord Bookshop. Do you all know Dawn? 
We’ve had some bookish fun in our book-bloggin’ friendship and I was SO GLAD! SO VERY VERY GLAD to finally get my butt up to her town and into her store.
So, I saw this book on the shelf and knew I must buy it. I had a feeling my Auntie would like it and that my cousin Linda would like it AND it was short enough that it would be possible for me to read it while visiting in Maine and thus leave it with my Maine Folk for their reading pleasure as well.
RATING: Five slices of pie.
I recorded no mention of pie within the Lucy Barton pages but I did see Elvis there. So let’s go with FIVE slices of Elvis Pie. Just click on this sentence to get to the recipe.
Care's Books and Pie 
I loved this one too and really need to read Olive Kitteridge. I liked Burgess Boys well enough, but heard Olive is much better.
Yes, I loved everything about this book, too! It’s nice to ‘see’ Dawn again…it’s been ages 🙂
Olive is still my favorite. Lucy likes being mysterious. But the Burgess Boys, yeah, who cares?
I’m so jealous you got to go to Dawn’s store! I’m glad the book’s so good too.
Nice store! Nice dogs! Nice pictures! I love Olive, too, and am excited to read about Lucy!
I am looking forward to this one because not only is it a 2017 TOB possibility but it was also long listed for the Man Booker. Funny, I agree with you and every one above that The Burgess Boys was just OK, Olive Kitteridge was much better!
I’ve only read Strout’s Amy and Isabelle but this one is on my list. I need to read Olive too!